Chapter 3 - The Notebook Behind The Locked Drawer
The doctor arrived thirty minutes later.
He examined Ethan and Lily carefully.
The results made my stomach turn.
The bruises were not from one accident.
They were consistent with repeated impact.
Repeated.
That word destroyed me.
Vanessa stood nearby pretending to be offended.
“This is ridiculous.”
The doctor looked at her.
“Ma’am, these injuries need to be taken seriously.”
She immediately became defensive.
“I told you.”
“They are difficult children.”
I turned around.
“Stop blaming them.”
She looked at me.
“You’re choosing them over me?”
I stared at her.
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
“I am their father.”
That night, Vanessa slept in the guest room.
Or at least she pretended to.
After my children finally fell asleep…
I went to her bedroom.
I knew I shouldn’t.
But Lily’s words kept repeating in my head.
She has a notebook.
I searched carefully.
I opened drawers.
Checked shelves.
Looked through cabinets.
Nothing.
Then I noticed something strange.
The bottom drawer of her desk had a new lock.
A small silver lock.
My wife had never locked that drawer before.
I tried the key ring on her dresser.
The third key opened it.
Inside…
Was a black notebook.
My hands felt cold.
I opened the first page.
And my heart dropped.
The title was written in Vanessa’s handwriting.
“Children’s Behavior Report.”
I turned the page.
January 4th.
“Ethan refused to apologize.”
January 8th.
“Lily cried when punished.”
January 12th.
“They need stronger discipline.”
I kept reading.
Every page became worse.
But then…
I found something that made me stop.
A sentence written in red ink.
“If Michael finds out, everything will be ruined.”
I stared at those words.
My wife knew.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
Then I heard a sound behind me.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Vanessa was standing there.
Watching me.
Her face had lost all emotion.
“You went through my things.”
I closed the notebook.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“I discovered the truth.”
For the first time…
Vanessa looked afraid.
But then she smiled.
May you like
A cold smile.
“You have no idea who you’re fighting against.”
